Possible terror attack: Security tightened around IAF bases

Security has been stepped up around the Indian Air Force bases in Srinagar and Awantipora area after Intelligence agencies warned of a possible terrorist strike in Jammu and Kashmir.

Reports had stated last month that the JeM is planning to attack the security forces again in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. Intel agencies had warned that the attack might be carried out in the Lethipora region. There have been multiple reports of possible attacks in the valley following the Balakot air strikes the IAF carried out targetting Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) training camps in Pakistan.

The fresh warning echoes the last one in terms of the possible modus operandi by the terrorist to target the security personnel in the valley. According to this, the terrorist will not use a vehicle - as done in the Pulwama attack - but will target security establishments, camps, and buildings using Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

On February 14, a Jaish operative Adil Ahmed Dar had rammed his IED-laden vehicle into a moving CRPF convoy killing at least 40 personnel. In response, India carried out air strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) targeting the terror outfits training camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The next day, Pakistan made an unsuccessful attempt to intrude the Indian airspace and lost one F-16 during the dogfight. One of India's MiG 21 Bison piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan had crash-landed in PoK. Abhinandan was handed over within three days.